Let firies march with Diggers like me on Anzac Day, says MP

Political reporter

Call for volunteers to join … Anzac Day marchers show their spirit. Photo: Tamara Dean

THEY stand bravely in the path of fire, risking their lives for mate and country - just like a soldier.

Now a member of the state government and a war veteran, Charlie Lynn, says Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service volunteers should be given the honour of marching on Anzac Day.

Mr Lynn, a Liberal Party MP who served in Vietnam, has broken ranks to urge his ''mates'' in the leadership of the RSL to consider broadening the scope of Australia's sacred military day.

''I've been thinking about what Anzac represents, and to me it's about selfless service to the nation and sacrifice,'' Mr Lynne said.

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''RFS and SES volunteers give up days and weeks of their time to train and be prepared then they risk their lives at times of extreme danger like we've seen over the past week. To me that's the same sort of sacrifice that soldiers make.''

Mr Lynn said the inclusion of volunteers from outside military ranks would breathe new life into Anzac Day marches in country towns where numbers of war veterans have waned.

''Anzac Day numbers are declining rapidly. We're not seeing the bulk numbers marching like we did after Word War I and World War II, and something will need to be done to keep it alive,'' he said.

''Virtually every town in Australia has an RFS, an SES and a war memorial. That's what makes us unique. This would be a way to bring all those together and keep the spirit of Anzac Day alive and keep people actively participating in it rather than being spectators.''

But Mr Lynn, who has guided more than 60 groups along the Kokoda Track, knows he has a fight on his hands to convince Don Rowe, the NSW president of the RSL.

Mr Rowe said he would have a ''big problem'' with allowing non-services personnel and their descendants into the main Sydney march but would consider greater involvement of volunteers in rural areas.

''We've got a set of guidelines and there is no talk of changing them. Anzac Day and the march is for people who have served in our defence forces. It's about them.''

Mr Rowe said 20,000 people marched and the number was rising due to more descendants marching.

RFS volunteers already helped co-ordinate marches in towns, Mr Rowe said. ''In rural areas it's up to the sub-branches as to what level of involvement those volunteers have and that's no problem for us but when it comes to the main march in Sydney we would have a big problem with that.''

The nation's most famous RFS volunteer, Tony Abbott, declined to comment on the idea as he began his family holiday on Saturday.

The Premier, Barry O'Farrell, said he was cool on the idea but flagged a separate ceremony to honour the fire volunteers who have been battling bushfires across the state over the past week.

''It's an interesting idea but my personal view is that Anzac Day should remain a day to honour those who've served our country in war,'' he said.

''There will be appropriate acknowledgement of the efforts of emergency workers during the current fire crisis once the crisis is over.''

A spokesman for the RFS said: ''At this stage we don't have a position on that.''

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